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what will your next purchase be?

this'll make it where i can shoot outdoors with my studio strobes. since they're a lot more powerful than my portable flashes i can actually use umbrellas and softboxes instead of bare bulb like i do now and get the same effects...cept with better/softer light.

i also kinda want a fisheye or extreme wide angle lens...and a macro...but it'll be a looong time before i buy either.

More Vivitars, sync cords, & miniphone splitters. I wanna make another one of these:

I've already got 2 more Vivitars and another bracket. Just need 2 more flashes and the cables. When I get the other bits & bobs for setup #2, I'll just run it so that all four lights are triggered by the same receiver. In the meantime, I'll be running either the 4 x 1 configuration as above (mostly outdoors), or a 2 x 2 combination (mostly in rooms ie receptions).

this'll make it where i can shoot outdoors with my studio strobes. since they're a lot more powerful than my portable flashes i can actually use umbrellas and softboxes instead of bare bulb like i do now and get the same effects...cept with better/softer light.

i also kinda want a fisheye or extreme wide angle lens...and a macro...but it'll be a looong time before i buy either.

I love my vagabond II unit. I've only used it for 2 shoots but my latest beach shots were used with it.

Power-starved illumination

Originally Posted by cdifoto

More Vivitars, sync cords, & miniphone splitters. I wanna make another one of these:

I've already got 2 more Vivitars and another bracket. Just need 2 more flashes and the cables. When I get the other bits & bobs for setup #2, I'll just run it so that all four lights are triggered by the same receiver. In the meantime, I'll be running either the 4 x 1 configuration as above (mostly outdoors), or a 2 x 2 combination (mostly in rooms ie receptions).

Do you cycle batteries as often as it looks you might, with these?

That's awesome portable firepower!

Personally, going with the thread, my next purchase is the Full Frame ... but I have decided to put it off until next year ... to see if the price gets better ... and also since I have, pretty much, shattered my "defense budget" for the hobby, this year. A record number of lens purchases and lighting upgrades ... and we all know how important glass and light is to this project.

EDIT: Sorry, I just popped for a Carbon Fiber tripod. Got tired of lugging that aluminum monster around. It's solid ... but, really tiring at the end of a mobile shoot.EDIT II: Sorry again, I picked up a new, larger sling bag to accomodate a new lens and a replacement lens case to hold it on my backpack. (Ok ... we return you back to our regularly scheduled thread)

Whatever your own purhases are ... good luck in all your efforts ... and, above all, GET THE SHOT!

Last edited by DonSchap; 09-26-2008 at 04:59 PM.

Don Schap - BFA, Digital Photography A Photographer Is ForeverLook, I did not create the optical laws of the Universe ... I simply learned to deal with them.
Remember: It is usually the GLASS, not the camera (except for moving to Full Frame), that gives you the most improvement in your photography.flickr® & Sdi

More Vivitars, sync cords, & miniphone splitters. I wanna make another one of these:

I've already got 2 more Vivitars and another bracket. Just need 2 more flashes and the cables. When I get the other bits & bobs for setup #2, I'll just run it so that all four lights are triggered by the same receiver. In the meantime, I'll be running either the 4 x 1 configuration as above (mostly outdoors), or a 2 x 2 combination (mostly in rooms ie receptions).

What do you use that for? Search and rescue? Interrogations?

Lukas

Camera: Anonymous
I could tell you but I wouldn't want you to get all pissy if it's the wrong brand

I haven't put it to use yet. I just received the 2nd splitter and Vivitar sync cords needed to run the two additional lights today. I do know that I'll have to buy more batteries but the plan is instead of running one flash at full power and constantly waiting on recycles & changing out batteries, I'll run either two flashes at 1/2 power or four flashes at 1/4 power. It's all the same amount of total light that way, but 1/2 power recycles 2x as fast and 1/4 power is virtually always ready for the next shot. If my theory holds water, I'll go through the same amount of batteries, just not as often. If that makes sense. Plus, the full power is always there if I need it.

I also have more creative options with at least two flashes on the same stand. For example, I can run one up for room lighting, and one straight ahead for rim lighting on the couple during the first dance.